COMMAND OF THE MIND

UNDERSTANDING AND PURIFICATION

To gain control of our thinking process it is far easier to do this once we have removed those unpleasant, nasty, selfish, vicious, and unhealthy thoughts (attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours). We can do this by a systematic process of purification.

COMMAND REQUIRES
COMPREHENSION

This
is the central realization that we need to focus upon: To be able to control and
command something we must first understand (comprehend) it and it's behavior. The human
experience is a product of the holistic activity of the seven
chakras. When we realize this
fact, then we will soon gain mastery of the functions and expressions of the
mind as represented by the seven
chakras.

Freedom
from passion, the practice of breathing exercises, the curtailment
of wants and desires, the reduction of worldly activities, resort
to silence, remaining in seclusion in a room for one or two hours
daily, the raising of prayers, the exercise of discrimination,
discipline of the senses, control of anger, non-mixing with undesirable
persons, annihilation of greed and selfishness, control over
the bodily posture, freedom from disturbing sensations or thoughts
of work on hand, increase in the number of sittings in daily
meditation, repetition of inspiring scriptural hymns, expression
of mercy and love for all, development of the powers of attention,
reflection on the miraculous benefits of obtaining full concentration,
a burning aspiration to realize the divine Being within the span
of present life, the presence of past spiritual tendencies, -
are some of the aids for increasing and heightening the powers
of concentration. One who has developed great powers of concentration
obtains intuition, evolves rapidly, acquires immense inner spiritual
strength and gains unalloyed spiritual felicity and communion
with The Real Eternal Self.

THE MIND ONLY SUGGESTS

Don't be frightened of your mind. It is only a huge bio-computer that simply makes suggestions to us, unless it has to make reflex reactions; like running from an oncoming car.

We, the individual, are in control of our responses to these suggestions. The Thinking Mind (Chakra 6) is like a huge computer keeping track of our life. We can choose to accept or reject the suggestions that arise from these computations. We can also reprogram our mind like a computer, deleting unwanted behaviours and habits, and installing new healthy ones.

For example, perhaps you want to give up smoking or cream cakes. When the suggestion comes through to indulge in these things then you can simply say "No more" or "Not yet - maybe later." They are only suggestions and YOU ARE IN CONTROL.

CONSCIOUS SELF MASTERY

You can master your own body, heart, senses, and mind. If you achieve self-mastery then you are the master of everything in your life. Unfortunately, many have forgotten to exercise this mastery, and the body, heart, senses, and mind have become the masters. If you let them they will enslave you, but you can train them to obey you, then you become the master.

To control your mind you must control the senses because a large part of the mind, excluding the imagination, functions through the senses. By themselves the senses are innocent. They can't do anything. It's not the eyes that see, but the mind through the eyes.

The fifth branch on the tree of yoga (The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga) is sense control. That doesn't mean you suppress anything. Instead, you gain control over them. You use the senses as you want and do not allow them to use you. Through the conscious mind you send proper impressions into the subconscious mind to erase the old impressions and habits. That's what you cann will: use you will.

The best way to develop this ability - the willpower - is to begin with small things over which you can easily take control, and build from there. Gradually taper off unwanted habits. Instead of saying "I am going to stop smoking today forever" try steadily cutting down on a daily basis and then you will have success.